Tag Archives: WinterWOW

This Thing is GLOBAL!

As I walked into the game room, the pungent odor of sweat and the roar of enthusiastic conversation hit my nose, ears & eyes. All the classic signs of a youth group retreat. Yep, I was in the right place! A short while later, those same 50+ students piled into the dining hall, and after prayer they eagerly began tucking into their dinner. It was such a joy to see the “Winter WOW” retreat in action. It included students & leaders from four different PA churches and they were obviously having a fantastic time!

But how would they respond to me, the big, bald, bearded stranger? And more importantly, what would they think of the things I was going to share with them as they ate? It can be an intimidating prospect to interrupt teenagers while they’re eating!

But I went for it with gusto and began sharing with them that, even though I didn’t know them personally, I believed that God had placed incredible spiritual potential inside each and every one of them. And because of that, one of the most important things they could do during their youth group years was to tap into those gifts, talents & abilities – allowing them to be unleashed! In doing that, God would do incredible Kingdom work through them, they would develop a deep and lasting faith, and God would be glorified in the process.

Then I got practical, sharing two ways that C.E. partners with churches to unlock that God-given potential in students.

MISSION WEEKS

Three students who attended Mission Weeks in the past got up & shared their thoughts. They spoke not only to the fun of doing construction projects & being with their youth groups, but especially about the heart change that God was able to do in them as they served. Mission Weeks are structured to encourage student engagement, and that has paid huge dividends in the lives of these three!

PRAYER WEEK

Then I held up one of the jankiest posters I’ve ever made…a mess of taped-together printouts on a poorly cut cardboard backdrop. (A number of the teen girls offered afterwards to help me with my poster-designing for next year…an offer which I will absolutely take them up onl!) After we had a good laugh at the poster, I explained what it meant. At the top it said “Awe & Wonder” in English. Then it had that same “Awe & Wonder” logo in nine other languages. This is where I had the chance to blow their minds.

The “Awe & Wonder” worship service that a number of those students were planning & going to lead was actually part of a global celebration! Little did they know that they were joining other young people from multiple nations around the world in focusing on the awe & wonder of God that very weekend. This was the kick-off of C.E.’s global Prayer Week; a time to focus even more deeply on seeking God and praying for His Kingdom to be built GLOBALLY.

The Spirit of God is actively moving. His presence was evident in the way those students responded to the things I shared, in the passion of the 11th grader who led worship during the evening session that followed, and in the freedom of the prayers students offered at the close of that session.

The Kingdom of God is being built globally. Giving students a tangible way see and participate in that is one of the most exciting aspects of the Christian Endeavor movement!